Sunak Warns about Victory for Hamas

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a speech at the annual dinner of the Community Security Trust (CST) on Wednesday night in which he described the ordeal of the families of the Israeli hostages as harrowing beyond heartbreaking.

In the context of international pressure on Israel, he went on to warn that a ceasefire imposed in Gaza without the release of all the remaining Israeli hostages and without Hamas removed from power,

“would not be a ceasefire at all but a victory for Hamas.”

And then said that the current government “will not stand” for such an outcome.

The Prime Minister also said that the surge in antisemitism seen in Britain since the October 7th massacre was,

“utterly, utterly sickening … It is hatred pure and simple, and I tell you tonight:
we will fight this antisemitism with everything we’ve got.”

As part of that fight, he promised to give the CST more than £70 million over the next four years. This money would pay for protective measures such as security guards, CCTV and alarm systems at Jewish schools, synagogues, and community centres.

In addition to that, the Prime Minister promised to lead this government in a long-term effort to strengthen security for British Jews, defend the UK’s liberal democratic values, and change the culture – to tackle the root causes of this hatred.

Nor is it only British Jews who are under threat. Earlier on Wednesday, Rishi Sunak met police leaders to discuss a new protocol to defend democracy and protect MPs – a number of whom have come under personal threat recently.